Coventry University

Coventry University (Ben Sutherland)

Overall ranking: Came 48th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

History: Founded in 1843 as Coventry College of Design. The Lanchester Polytechnic was formed in 1960, changed to the Coventry Polytechnic in 1980, and became Coventry University in 1992 under the Further and Higher Education Act.

Address: In the middle of Coventry, the UK's eighth largest city, opposite the cathedral.

Ambience: The large, modern campus is convenient for shopping, bus and train station, and sports facilities. The city is very student friendly with a mile-long pedestrianised shopping strip and a growing number of festivals.

Who's the boss? Professor Madeleine Atkins is the vice-chancellor. An ex-comprehensive school teacher, she joined from Newcastle University in September 2004.

Prospectus: 024 7615 2222 or request one here.

UCAS code: C85

What you need to know

Vital statistics: Boasts over 20,000 full-time undergrads. 97.4% in total come from state schools, and over a third are from the local area. Huge mature student population too, with just under a third of students being over 21 at the start of their course.

Added value: Strong in design. The brains behind Eurostar, the Ford Ka, Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1 Series and the new Landrover Freelander all started out here. The university is carrying out a £160m regeneration programme, which includes a range of catering outlets, a mini supermarket, post office and an exclusive roof garden. The students’ union building has been designed to harness solar energy and much of the area inside the campus is set to become pedestrianised. The money will also be put towards a new Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, know as a "faculty on the factory floor." Another new state-of-the-art science and health 'super lab' will also be opening in 2017, which will house the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

In addition A £100 million investment into research is underway to make this happen, and it has already seen the launch of several new centres including the Centre for peace, Trust and Social Relations and Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Science. Another major new development since this time last year is the creation of the Coventry University Scarborough Campus which aims to address the employment and skills needs of the Yorkshire coast as well as attracting students from the wider Yorkshire region and beyond.

Easy to get into? Fairly. Makes offers on grades, not UCAS points. The grade range is AAB to CCC in A-levels. Health subjects are extremely popular, as are sports, design, performance, psychology, law, humanities subjects, business courses and engineering programmes.

Teaching: Very impressive. Landed the top spot for student satisfaction in teaching in the 2015 Complete University Guide

Graduate prospects: 45th out of 126 with 70.8 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Yes-The price range for fresher accommodation for 2014/15 is £4,200 to £5,940 for contracts ranging from 38 to 44 weeks. Accommodation prices include free high speed broadband, free membership of the University Sports Centre, student possession insurance and other utilities.

Cheap to live there? Reasonable; private rents are between £240 and £600 per month.

Transport links: Five miles from M1/M6 intersection, 20 minutes to Birmingham by train, 60 minutes to London.

Fees: Undergrad degrees for EU/home students costs £8,460, and £11,040 for international applicants. Other qualifications vary in price. Use the course finder to locate your fee.

Bursaries: The university offers excellence and sports-based scholarships. For more information visit the website.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Three bars and regular club nights at the SU, known as The Hub, which have been rebuilt recently. Plenty of drinking and dancing establishments in Coventry itself too.

Price of a pint: £2.50 on average across the city.

Sporting reputation: 37th of 145 in the BUCS league at the moment.

Notable societies: Be a bit silly with the Laser Quest society (depending on how seriously you take winning!) or let your expressive side out with Creative Writing.

Glittering alumni: John Kettley, former weatherman; Andrea McLean, former GMTV weather presenter; Mike Short, vice-president of O2; Alison Snowden, Oscar-winning animator; Gideon Coe, BBC Radio 6 presenter; David Yelland, former editor of The Sun newspaper.

Alternative prospectus: Join the discussion about Coventry with former and current students on The Student Room, to help you work out whether it's the university for you.